Paris rushed to get her things from the bed. It was weird that she’d forgotten the overnight
bag. It was right there on the bed where she had left it that morning. School had been very
trying today, she just was happy she was sleeping over at her friends place tonight. It was
sleepover night after all. They always had sleepovers at her best friend’s house every other
night except on Friday which was usually a friend’s party or late cheer practice or some other
thing which was more fun.
High school was about to be gone and just a matter of days ago, she had gotten a new mother,
her boyfriend was totally angry with her. He was ignoring her today at school and had
refused to talk to her. She didn’t mind now any more, maybe she needed a break. Every one
of her friends had problems, problems they didn’t need. And she didn’t like her own problem
one bit.
Anastasia had gone on a weekend trip with her boyfriend and his family to some
place where they skied and she ended up with her wrist broken, her left wrist; or that was her
story. The wrist which made the most beautiful sculptures, painted the most beautifully sad
pictures, and wrote the most, lovely poetry. There was really no way to discern the true cause
of the cast on her hand and she and her boyfriend had stuck to the story of going to ... with his
family to ski.
Monica, her twin on the other end had the worst case of morning sickness and hated
her boyfriend for every single discomfort she felt. She knew it was going to slow down her
career but she didn’t care one bit. She loved him. Totally. Her major problem was she was
dealing with a mama’s boy. If there was one thing she hated the most was he defended the
fact that she was too protective over him. She called every time they were out together almost
every ten minutes.
Angelicas case seemed to be a simple case of choice. Her Texan father had left two
years ago to Korea and had left her with her friends parents, Monica’s’ parents. Now he
wanted her to join him there. Leave all she had doing and just come straight to Korea to his
new family. Like she even cared what the new family looked like; A Korean woman and their son. A baby her father was more than happy to discuss every time he called her forgetting
that her mother was the closest thing to her heart. And even though this woman in question
was dead, for years now, she still felt that he was treating her wrong, being unfair to ask her
to drop all she knew for a family she was yet to meet. Yet to know their culture, yet to even
know if the woman he had decided to marry, have a family with, make her relative, liked her.
Belinda was the computer geek of the group, though she wanted to study law in the
university. She had this desire to put away the bad guys. Recently her mother was arrested for
fraud and if there was one thing Lindy was sure of it was that her mother was guilty. But with
a daughter like her she had escaped the claws of jail, since it was she who covered her trail.
The only problem was she felt terrible. And though she had asked God to forgive her, she
couldn’t find herself forgiving herself for doing such. It hurt her. And now her mother had
gone ahead to report herself to the police. She couldn’t have a police record. There was no
way she could study the course of her dreams if her mother went ahead to expose her.
To Paris her life was perfect. Very perfect, in fact too perfect to be true. She even had
solutions to all their problems and funnily all her friends agreed with her. Totally. The only
problem she had now was this beef Nathan had for her and her totally perfect life may not be
as perfect as it seemed. The embarrassing thing was, the whole school knew about it. That
part was a little bit her fault all right. Monica had told her not to bother begging him for
forgiveness since she’d done nothing wrong. Paris had thought otherwise. She’d walked up to
him just after his practice and had tried talking with him. He’d snubbed her. It was like she
was not there. Like a ghost was talking. A nobody. She then confronted him after school at
the car park only to be snubbed again. This time it hurt far worse than it was supposed to. He
got into his car and drove off.
Being handsome in a boyish way and captain of the schools team made him every girls
dream. She had expected a higher level of maturity than what she was seeing now. She hoped
that the night together with her friends would just be the perfect thing for the way she felt. It
was an uneasy feeling. If this was what heartbreak felt like, then why did people make such a
fuss over it all? It was like having a nagging ache within her which was totally controllable.
She picked up the night case still wondering what had made her leave the Louis Vuitton case
her father had got as a gift.
She walked out of the room she had occupied for the most of her life. On her arrival to
her bedroom, she was sure she’d heard her mother moaning as usual, but the name she seemed to be calling out now in ecstasy sounded a lot like that of someone she hoped with
everything in her, wasn’t. She pressed her ear to the door to be sure. With anger that set her
hands shaking she opened the door to see her boyfriend for the last five years in throws of
passion with an equally sweaty Vanessa. The Louis Vuitton case she held in her right hand
fell in shock. ‘Nathan?’ she said her voice, not a bit higher than a grave whisper.
‘I thought you were at a sleepover?’ Vanessa ventured to say not in the least bothered to be
caught by her daughter with her boyfriend. Nathan on the other hand rushed to get into his
trousers as he ran after Paris who was thundering down the stairs, case in hand. She slammed
the front door shut in his face and walked briskly to her car. Just after she’d gotten into her
car and was about to zoom off, Nathan came running. ‘Paris, wait. I can explain.’ He said
coming to the car.
‘I don’t want an explanation, Nathan. I totally understand now.’ She replied starting the car.
‘You can’t drive in this condition Paris. Listen to me damn it.’ He said.
‘If I die, Nathan it would do you and Vanessa a lot of good. And don’t tell me to listen!’ she
said before she drove off almost running over his foot.
She drove to Monica’s house. The police stopped her once she got there. ‘The ticket,
please.’ she said to the police officer whom looked very surprised at her boldness.
‘Any time Miss Miller.’ the other police officer said smiling.
‘Hi Ted.’ She said.
‘What’s up kiddo?’ he asked quite concerned, since she was not her usual happy self.
‘I am not in the mood to talk about it, please Ted.’
‘Would you be okay?’ He asked as Victoria emerged from the house and walked towards
them her apron still tied around her waist.
‘She’s home. She’ll be fine.’
‘Okay ma’am.’ They both said as Victoria led her into the house.
Monica came down the stairs just at that moment followed by the others. ‘Paris?’ she
asked ‘mum what’s wrong?’ she asked coming to hold her crying friend and looking at her
mother in a confused way. She had only just dropped her off at the place her stuff were,
Monica never called that place a house not to talk of mentioning it as her best friend’s home.
‘She won’t say dear. I am also worried.’ Victoria said pulling back. ‘I’ll go finish the salad.
Be down for dinner, girls. Or should I bring it up.’ She asked ‘We’ll eat in our room mom.’ Monica replied.
‘Okay dears. Now you go up and find out what’s got my lovely girl so messed up.’ With that
she went straight to the kitchen.
‘What’s wrong, sis?’ Anastasia asked looking her way as the others trooped in. she had
been on the phone with Jake her boyfriend and had not been down with the rest.
‘Yeah Paris, what’s wrong?’ Angelica asked sitting on the bed.
Paris couldn’t still speak. Her life was going perfectly. Perfectly. Every time she felt she had
balance it was like Vanessa was created to destroy it. Destroy her happiness; destroy her
balance in life, her joy. She knew Vanessa couldn’t take her joy, and she also knew one other
thing that very close friend and family member, with the exception of Vanessa knew; she was
going to get her pound of flesh and didn’t care if Vanessa ended up hurting. She just couldn’t
believe it. She couldn’t understand the urge Vanessa felt to just hurt people without thinking
of the consequences. She had not only destroyed the family they had, but the little respect she
had managed to gain for her after the hatred that seemed to fill her, after the divorce. She took
a deep breath and said, ‘You really want to know what’s made me cry like an idiot.’
‘Of course we do.’ Belinda said, handing her the facial wipe.
‘I caught Vanessa in bed with Nathan.’ She said just after she had wiped off the makeup on
her face. ‘You were right Monica. I was so blind. Two whole years. For two whole years they
had been seeing each other. I just can’t believe I didn’t see it all along!’ She said drying her
eyes.
‘I am really sorry.’ Angelica said.
‘I’m sorry I was right, Paris. I really am. I always thought you too good for him.’ Monica
said coming to hold her hands that were still shaking.
‘It’s a good thing you didn’t give yourself to him.’ Anastasia said coming to join the rest on
the massive bed.
‘Yeah. Besides knowing you, what do you intend to do to him?’
‘Nothing.’ she replied lying down.
‘Nothing?’ they all asked shocked.
‘Yes. Nothing, nothing at all. It’s that bitch I’m going to make sure tastes what hell can feel
like.’ She said smiling. ‘By the time I’m done with her, she’ll wish she never met me.’
‘So what do you want to do?’
‘I’ll tell you when I’ve thought about it thoroughly.’
‘We would be waiting’
‘I need to get out of that house. I feel like I’m going to poison her or something.’
‘Take my advice dear it’s not worth it. She couldn’t have done something that bad to deserve
death.’ Victoria said as she set the tray on the centre table.
‘If there was anything worse than death it’s what she would deserve, Vic. She destroyed my
family, made me the insecure child you ended up taking out of that house to help, she almost
destroyed your marriage with her lies about you, caused more than half the divorces at my
school, I caught her with Nathan not too long ago and you think she does not deserve death?’
‘She was with your boyfriend?’ Victoria asked.
‘Yes’ Paris said shortly after swallowing a piece of meat she’d been chewing.
‘Don’t do anything stupid okay?’ Monica’s father said coming to the room with two pitchers
of juice and glasses.
‘I promise not to do anything stupid.’ Paris said looking at the man who let her into his
family without a complaint. It would be something very brilliant if everything goes according
to plan. It only needs a little fine tuning. The friendship of their daughters had brought the
four couples together. Angelica had been with them for the past two years and her dad came
on regular visits just about the girls’ birthdays. He held his wife’s hand and immediately
turned to leave when Monica’s phone rang. She let it ring longer.
‘Pick your phone Moni –’her father was saying before she cut him short.
‘It’s only Matt, dad.’ She said sipping her drink. He looked at the older of his twins with
concern, he was about to move in her direction when Victoria squeezed his hand tighter than
she held it before, ‘want to talk schtuga?’ he asked. She shook her head in reply. ‘We’ll be in
our room if you girls need anything.’ He then said before turning to leave their room his wife
in front of him.
The next day, the girls awoke to find Paris at the computer chatting. ‘Girl how long
have you been awake?’ Belinda asked.
‘I am soooooooooo sorry if I woke you girls up. I just couldn’t sleep and since I am at least
my heartthrobs’ friend on face book...” She was saying still typing.
‘You guys actually chat?’ Angelica asked quite baffled.
‘Of course we do. It’s been like two years now, and honestly I was upset when I read he was
engaged and then he confirmed that he was engaged, but who cares right. It’s just a crush.’
‘Why don’t you ask him who she is it would be nice to finally know who the woman that has
got your heartthrobs heart.’ Monica said smiling. Paris typed the question and was shocked at his answer.
don’t kid around Luis, be serious.
I am being totally serious Paris, i asked her to marry me last month.
i know. but…………brb. She turned to look at her friends. ‘It can’t be!’ she said so shocked.
The girls ran to the computer. ‘Nnooo!!!’ they all wailed.
‘What do I say?’ she asked scratching her right side burn.
‘Leave this to me girl, go take a shower and go get your things from that brothel. By the time
I am done you won’t remember he is engaged. And neither would he.’ Anastasia said shooing
her off with one hand. Paris laughed for the first time since she saw her mom – Vanessa with
Nathaniel.
‘Okay.’ They all said running to get their outfits for the day out as Paris ran for the bathroom.
‘What happened?’ Arnold asked his daughter when she knocked at the door. Then he
noticed the girls were with Paris’s suitcases. He looked at his vibrant daughter as she looked
into the house. ‘Dad can I stay here with you? I can’t stand Vanessa one more day.’ She said
sadly. ‘I hope Tanya won’t mind.’ She said as they all came into the house. Tanya came out
of the kitchen area then smiling. ‘I don’t mind Paris dear and even if I did, this is your home.
You don’t need to ask for any permission to live here. The bedroom upstairs is ready.’
‘You got my message?’ Paris asked shocked. She’d thought she’d been sending that message
to her father.
‘Yes darling she did. I left my phone at her practice yesterday and she just brought it over this
morning. I was kinda shocked when she said you needed a place to stay. You didn’t give
much detail about what happened.’ Her father said leading them to the kitchen for an early
lunch. Now you girls should run upstairs and get dressed I am treating you to a spa day, my
present for your birthdays.’
‘Yeah!!!” they all screamed and went on to the massive bedroom upstairs to get dressed.
That night when they were all settled in bed, Paris let her plan out. Monica stared at her for a
while before finally speaking. ‘Are you sure you really want to do that?’ she asked not too
sure what she expected her best friends reply to be. Angelica and the rest nodded in
agreement to the question.
‘I am totally sure. But I need you guys to help me. I can’t carry this out on my own and I honestly don’t wish to do it all alone.’ She said her eyes imploring them. Anastasia looked at
the mirror one last time then said, ‘I’m in. I’ll make sure the bitch pays as much as we’ve all
had to cry over her.’
‘That’s her mother you’re talking about that way’ Belinda ventured to mention.
‘Oh PUH- LEASE.’ They all replied looking at Belinda in an amused way.
‘Belle, it was your boyfriend first, now mine.’ Paris reminded the beautiful geekish blonde
‘Before that was Anna’s dad, don’t you think she needs to pay?’
‘But the holy bible says vengeance is mine says the lord.’ Belinda said shortly before Monica
laughed.
‘Yes darling. The bible does say so. But the bible also says suffer not a witch to live. She’s a
witch – ‘
‘more like a bitch, but she’s wicked and I honestly don’t think I would like for her to die
though. She should be punished. They’re old enough to be her kids.’ Paris said.
‘We all have motive to pay her back, but what does Angelica have against her.’ Belinda
asked.
‘My mom is dead. Because of her.’
‘How?’ Belinda asked stupidly.
‘It was Vann’s car that hit her mom, Belle.’ Paris said.
‘no.’
‘it was. I was in the back seat of mom’s truck and I saw it all happen. But of course who
would credit the testimony of a four year old. I had told them it was her. They all said it was
shock. Even the therapists said so too.’ Angelica replied a tear falling unto her cheek.
‘We should do this. No matter the advice anyone gives we’re making Vanessa pay for her
crimes.’ Belinda said finally. The year Angelicas mother had died had been the year they had
all met in the preschool their parents had decided to confine them to. Angelica always had
had these sad eyes that were a beautiful shade of blue. She finally lightened up two years
after, her father being the centre of her universe. He had upped and left her with the Jonson’s
when he’d gotten a new job in South Korea four years ago. She missed her father sorely.’ So
it’s decided. We are taking Vanessa down.’ Monica said looking around when she heard her
phone ring. She looked at the caller I.D. and refused to pick the call. ‘Monica, talk to him. It’s
been more than a week.’ Paris said turning to pick out strawberries from the jar that had their
collections of berries. Monica rejected the call. Paris ended up picking the call when it rang
again and she refused to pick it up. ‘Matt, Monica’s angry with you and doesn’t want to talk
right now.’ ‘I really don’t care, Paris, give the phone to Nicky’ he said in a very strange voice. Paris
turned to look at her friend. ‘He wants to speak with you, girl and he doesn’t sound so good.
Talk to him. He needs to – ’Monica snatched the phone from Paris’ hand. ’Fine! I’ll talk with
him.’
She sat with her legs folded underneath her. ‘Yes?’
‘Nicky I am sorry. Forgi –’
‘Matt that won’t be necessary. I am ready to differ my admission and have this baby. Being a
single mother won’t hurt me, Matt. And I don’t want you in my way.’
‘Let’s talk about this, Nicky. Can I come o –?’
‘You can’t. I’m sorry but today’s Tuesday. Your mother goes to church at about this time.
Remember?’
‘I hired a chauffeur.’
‘Seriously? You hired a chauffeur now. Now, Matt? All those nights we had to cancel, the
nights I had games and you weren’t there? Matt is it now all of a sudden that you realise your
mother needed a chauff – ‘
‘Babe I am totally sorry. I – I – I don’t know how to – ’
‘Then don’t. Don’t Matt. Don’t.’
‘Nicky, stop treating me –’
‘Like what? Like you’re a child? For God’s love Matt your mother dictates your life. I don’t
need anyone– a woman– your mother telling me how I’m going live my life, simply because
her son can’t let her know the umbilical cord has been cut. You may be her baby, but I am
not. We’ll talk if you want to but not tonight I have to rest. I’ve had enough stress for one
day. I don’t want to hear about your mother or what she thinks when we meet.’
‘That’s fine by me.’ He sighed. ‘Nicky, I’m dreadfully sorry about this whole thing. You’re
upset. Let’s meet please. I really miss you. I can’t concentrate. My every thought is you. Just
say you’ll give me a chance.’
‘I’ll try.’
‘Don’t try. Say you will.’
‘I will. How about tomorrow, we’re having our party and – ’
‘text the details to me okay?’
‘Okay.’
‘I love you.’
‘Me too.’
‘Say the words Nicky. I want to hear you say the words.’
‘I love you Matt.’
She pushed a lock of hair away from her face.’ I didn’t go to that beach house with the intent
to lose my virginity to him I just made one mistake. Just one. And now everyone is leaving
for college and I’m staying behind. I’m staying behind. For a child his father doesn’t even
want.’ Paris held her in her arms. Monica hardly cried. Even as a little girl. She was the
macho one in the group. To see her twin crying upset Anastasia a lot. She started crying.
‘Oh come on Anna. Not you too.’
